Reliability

• What is reliability in measurement?

  A measure of consistency
• What does it mean if a measurement is reliable?

  It produces the same result consistently
• If a ruler measures a chair consistently, what does this indicate?

  The ruler is reliable
• What would indicate a change in measurement over time?

  Attributing change to the object measured
• What might cause a ruler to give inconsistent measurements?

  If the ruler is broken
• What is expected when measuring intelligence on different days?

  Same result unless the person changes
• What types of things do psychologists measure?

  Attitudes, aggression, memory
• What is the test-retest method?

  Administering the same test on different occasions
• What does a significant correlation in test-retest indicate?

  The test is reliable
• What is inter-observer reliability?

  Agreement between two or more observers
• How is inter-observer reliability measured?

  By correlating observations of observers
• What is the general rule for high inter-observer reliability?

  Agreements > 80% of observations
• What is the purpose of a pilot study in observational research?

  To check for inter-observer reliability
• How does reliability relate to psychological tests?

  It assesses consistency in measuring behavior
• What are the methods of assessing reliability in psychology?

  • Test-retest reliability
  • Inter-observer reliability
• What are the key terms related to reliability in psychology?

  • Reliability: Consistency of measurement
  • Test-retest reliability: Same person, different occasions
  • Inter-observer reliability: Agreement between observers
• What are the implications of low reliability in psychological measurements?

  • Inconsistent results
  • Reduced confidence in findings
  • Potential for bias in conclusions